Language in the Streets - Human Emotion Part 1

As most of my Facebook followers & friends already know, I got a new camera body recently. What better way to break it in than a photographic expedition in downtown Chicago amidst the Chicago Marathon! This idea came from a recent endeavor I joined called www.meetups.com - you can find specific interest groups and attend all types of meetings, seminars, educational outings, etc.
I joined a group called "The Art of Seeing" and saw on the calendar that there was an outing scheduled for today - and decided to go for it and check it out (with my Jeff there to watch over me and guide me, of course). This outing was called Language in the Streets - Human Emotion.
There were so many opportunities for experimentation here. We met under the clock at Marshall Fields (I refuse to refer to it as Macy's) and walked onward from there.
There were five of us in attendance, and even though our numbers were low, it was a challenge to keep our group together as we traveled through the crowds. Thank goodness I had Jeff with me - he's tall enough to see above the crowds and keep track of everyone! Christoph, the organizer & facilitator, is a soft-spoken gentleman with a world of experience and knowledge. He was very patient and offered many insights along the way and I am looking forward to more opportunities to shoot along side him and learn from him.
I have decided to break this into two different posts - this one is focusing on the true language of the streets of Chicago. The other will have the Human Emotion from the Chicago Marathon. This was actually a little more difficult photo assignment than I am used to - it is not easy photographing "on the sly" waiting for the perfect combination of timing and expression. Most times, right when you're about to press that shutter release, someone walks in front of you! I quickly learned to scout around the crowds and wait for the right image to present itself to me.
Below is my favorite picture of the entire day. Jeff and I were walking to Union Station, and at the base of the bridge that goes over the Chicago river, was this homeless woman begging for change. We walked past, and I saw the uniquness of her face and realized I really wanted to capture her expression. I made Jeff stop on the bridge and wait so I could turn around and take this image....and right after she started yelling something at us so we hustled it over the bridge!

Here are a few more of my favorites from the day that I feel show the language of the streets in Chicago. What do you think? Post a comment & let me know!